
Our menus are carefully crafted with kids in mind!
We always find creative ways to make our food fun, attractive and appealing, using various shapes, colours, textures etc. As per the recommendations of the Ontario Dieticians in Public Health, our menus run on a four week rotation which is “the preferred menu format for licensed child care centers” (Menu and Nutrition Environment, n.d.). We offer seasonal menus (Fall/Winter; Spring/Summer), allowing us to use local, seasonal produce whenever possible.
Citation:
Menu and Nutrition Environment. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21, 2024, from https://professionallearninghub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MP-NE-tool-EN-layout-Feb-22-final-hr-hyp-lks.pdf
The more they try, the more they like!
Repeating our meals and snacks increases each child’s exposure to the foods being offered; the more exposure, the more likely the child is to try a new food, and to like it! In fact, research has shown that “children need to be exposed to a food at least 12 times, but up to 30 times before they truly decide whether or not they don’t like the food “ (Surprise: Your Kid Needs to Try a Food 20 Times before You Can Give Up, n.d.). We aim to provide a balance of new and familiar foods in our menus.
Citation: Surprise: Your Kid Needs To Try A Food 20 Times Before You Can Give Up. (n.d.). Romper. https://www.romper.com/p/how-many-times-does-a-child-have-to-try-a-food-before-they-like-it-more-than-you-think-17999317


How we promote positive eating habits
We encourage our children to serve themselves at snack and meal times. This, we feel, is critical in allowing our children the opportunity to become attuned to their hunger cues (to learn when they are full, when they would like a second helping, etc.). Also, by seeing their peers trying and enjoying new/different foods, other children are more likely to do the same.